Reviewer Michelle Kaye Malsbury:
Michelle was born in Champaign, IL. Currently, she resides in Asheville, NC
and is in her second year of doctoral studies at Nova Southeastern
University in Ft. Lauderdale with specialization/concentration in
conflict resolution and peace studies. She has over six hundred
articles published on the web and one book published thus far with
many more in the wings. Hobbies include; reading, writing, music, and
playing with her Australian Cattle Dog, Abu.

By Michelle Kaye Malsbury

Published on April 7, 2013

Author: Christine McKee

Publisher: Balboa Press ISBN:
978-1-4525-0515-2

Author: Christine McKee

Publisher: Balboa Press ISBN:
978-1-4525-0515-2

Christine McKee, author of
Be by Design, Has authored one other book (2013, inside cover). She
is a registered psychologist and Director of the Be Institute. Be
Institute does psychological coaching, consulting, and training in
Brisbane, Australia. Ms. McKee’s clients are corporations, persons
in private practice, the mining industry/sector, not for profit
organizations, and governmental agencies. To learn more about her and
the Be Institute please log onto her website at
www.beinstitute.com.au.

Ms. McKee states that
(2013, p.1) that the first step in your “being” is about
self-awareness. Especially understanding how what you think and feel
and say affects the relationships in your life. Much of this comes
from “social conditioning.” Each person’s reality is based on
their current perceptions and past experiences and how each of us
interprets those perceptions. (p.3) These interpretations help to
give meaning to our actions and interactions. However, learning why
we do and say and react the way we do can help us to change those
previous perceptions, allowing us to refocus and be aware in the
present. According to Ms. McKee we “are on autopilot most of the
time.” (p.6) Changing from autopilot to living in the present is
what each of us ought to strive to do.

Chapter 2 challenges us to
“…know thyself.” (2013, p.19) McKee says “…all people have
free will and choice in all situations….”. Because of this “free
will” we can best honor ourselves and those around us by behaving
with integrity and not being judgmental. (paraphrase, pgs.21-22)
“Easier said than done” in most instances, but certainly worth
trying.

Once you are aware of how
you react and act, the basic element of knowing ones self, we can
select to behave in a more empowering way. (2013, paraphrase, p.30)
McKee states that “…the healthiest thing we can do for ourselves
is to give all feelings equal value.” (p.35) She calls this living
“in the moment.” Being able to truly live in the moment allows us
to make the best decisions and therefore have the best possible
outcomes from those decisions in all of our realtionships.

Accountability allows us
to be responsible for our thoughts, feelings, actions, words, etc.
(2013, paraphrase, p.42) McKee says this [responsibility] can be very
empowering. Furthermore, we should “Understand that everything you
do impacts the bigger picture.” (p.43) McKee calls this the “ripple
effect”. If we are frozen in our comfort zones we can never hope to
reach our true potential. (paraphrase, p.48) Freezing up is largely
due to fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Or simply fear
itself. Knowing whether or not fear is holding us back can help is
move forward. This helps us to “live a life with purpose.” (p.49)

Above
are just some, of the many, highlights of this book. I will say that
reading it invited me to collect my thoughts, etc., be honest in
evaluating them, while also focusing on how to change those dynamics
in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for all involved. Let
me add that this was no easy process, but those things that we do
that are painful for our psyches are oftentimes the best possible
point for personal growth. I think that all of us can benefit from
reading this book and doing the activities that Ms. McKee suggests
along the way. Sit back, read, and enjoy!